DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Botulism, drought, ag, and politics threaten water and waterfowl on CA refuges; Water Board releases drinking water needs assessment; Cities at most risk of flooding; Wild horses and water in CA; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

Botulism, drought, ag, and politics threaten water—and waterfowl—on California refuges

“With a salmonella outbreak in eight states already under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control, officials are watching in California for another disease that impacts waterfowl.  Botulism killed thousands of waterfowl and other birds last year on two national wildlife refuges near the border of California and Oregon. Some estimates were as high as 60,000 dead birds. The Lower Klamath Basin and Tule Lake national wildlife refuges were among the first created more than 100 years ago. Millions of waterfowl and shore birds, along with songbirds, migrated along the Pacific Flyway into the two refuges and beyond. … ”  Read more from Outdoor Life here: Botulism, drought, ag, and politics threaten water—and waterfowl—on California refuges

Report offers first in-depth picture of California water systems struggling to provide safe drinking water

“The State Water Resources Control Board announced today the completion of its first-ever comprehensive look at California water systems that are struggling to provide safe drinking water to communities and how to help them. With criteria for the state’s Human Right to Water list recently expanded, the assessment identifies both failing water systems and those at risk of failing, offering the most in-depth view of long-term drinking water safety the state has ever had.  The needs assessment follows California’s leadership in adopting the first Human Right to Water policy in the nation. The study is part of the state’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Program, a comprehensive approach to implementing Governor Gavin Newsom’s commitment to ensuring the estimated 1 million Californians being served contaminated water have solutions for safe, affordable drinking water. … ”  Read more from the State Water Board here: Report offers first in-depth picture of California water systems struggling to provide safe drinking water

ACWA testifies in support of climate resilience bond proposal with amendments

“ACWA staff testified with a support-if-amended position on AB 1500 (E.Garcia) during an Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee hearing on April 8. The bill is one of two climate resilience bond proposals that are currently advancing through the state Legislature and could be headed for the June 2022 ballot.  AB 1500 would create a $6.7 billion bond measure. ACWA, with input from the State Legislative Committee’s Bond Working Group, is requesting amendments to the bills to add funding for water-related climate resilience projects that help provide a reliable water supply during drought and flood. ... ”  Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: ACWA testifies in support of climate resilience bond proposal with amendments

Cities with the most properties at risk of flooding

“Flooding in the United States is likely to cause some $20 billion in damages this year and cost as much as $32 billion by 2051, according to research from First Street. Sundae took a look at the nation’s top 10 cities with the most properties at risk of flooding, using 2020 data from the First Street Foundation’s First National Flood Risk Assessment. Using First Street’s flood risk model based on existing environmental and weather data, the cities are ranked by the percentage of at-risk properties out of total properties. Projected data also is included for properties at risk in 2050 and the projected 30-year change. … ”  Read more at the Napa Valley Register here: Cities with the most properties at risk of flooding

Actions on climate change disclosure in California and new report indicate spring may be in like a lion and out like one too

“On Monday, the State of California launched a new group out of Governor Newsom’s office – the Climate-Related Risk Disclosure Advisory Group just as CERES (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies), a non-profit organization that has been a significant voice over the past decade on climate and sustainability economic issues, issued a report entitled, “Turning Up the Heat, The need for urgent action by U.S. financial regulators in addressing climate risk.”  The California advisory group is led jointly from the governor’s office and the Stanford University Precourt Institutes Sustainable Finance Initiative.  It is comprised of representatives from state government, various finance and energy finance institutions, venture capitalists, academics, and consultants. … ”  Read more from the National Law Review here: Actions on climate change disclosure in California and new report indicate spring may be in like a lion and out like one too

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In drought and hydrology news this weekend …

What can the 2015 drought tell us about the impacts of a drought in 2021?

“Taking a look back at a similar water year can help us understand what might be in store for us through the rest of this year and possibly beyond.   California is in a critically dry year, the same as in 2015. Water will be extremely tight for thousands of farmers around the state, and many of them have already received notice that their water supplies are being cut by up to 95 percent.  In 2015, water supply cuts of that magnitude led to over half a million acres of land taken out of production. … ”  Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition here: What can the 2015 drought tell us about the impacts of a drought in 2021?

‘Gold Standard’ data shows much longer droughts in West

“Rainstorms grew more erratic and droughts much longer across most of the U.S. West over the past half-century as climate change warmed the planet, according to a sweeping government study released Tuesday that concludes the situation is worsening.  The most dramatic changes were recorded in the desert Southwest, where the average dry period between rainstorms grew from about 30 days in the 1970s to 45 days between storms now, said Joel Biederman, a research hydrologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Southwest Watershed Research Center in Tucson, Arizona. … ”  Read more from KQED here: ‘Gold Standard’ data shows much longer droughts in West

Drought-plagued California and western U.S. may see another devastating fire season

“California and the West are falling deeper into drought and, with summer approaching, that portends another severe fire season. As a disappointing wet season comes to a close and hope for spring rain fades, conditions are worse now than they were at this time last year, with exceptional and extreme drought now found throughout the region. In California, that doesn’t bode well, given that last year’s more moderate rainfall deficits, combined with extreme heat waves, ushered in a record-setting fire year. It brought 5 of the 6 largest fires in modern state history, 10,488 destroyed structures and 33 fatalities. Some 4.2 million acres were torched. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post here: California and the West face severe wildfire season

Southern California water price jumps 48% in 3 weeks as rainy season disappoints

“Californians received a double dose of not so happy water news last month; cutbacks were made to water allocations and a key water price index surged higher. Drought fears are heightening due to low reservoir levels and below normal snowpack.  The winter precipitation season generally ends with the month of March, and it looks like California will head into summer with lower water supplies than last year after a second consecutive winter of below normal rain and snowpack. ... ”  Read more from Forbes Magazine here: Southern California water price jumps 48% in 3 weeks as rainy season disappoints

Editorial: Californians, get ready for drought water restrictions

The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “For the first time in five years, especially in the northern part of the state, California is facing a drought. After a hot and dry 2020, water supplies are only at half of normal levels, and state and federal water officials have warned farmers and local governments that shortages are on the horizon and that they should plan on how they will adjust.  Unfortunately, Gov. Gavin Newsom has so far mostly kept a low profile on the issue, perhaps because he fears that talking about bad news while he faces a fall recall election is risky politically. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Californians, get ready for drought water restrictions

In regional water news this weekend …

There’s just not enough water in Klamath Basin this year

“Twenty years ago, the Bureau of Reclamation announced the lowest-ever allocation to the Klamath Project. Next week, they’re poised to do it again.  Three irrigation district presidents and the president of the Klamath Water Users Association penned a letter to the Klamath Basin community Thursday, calling the current situation “eerily similar to 2001.” They wrote that they expect little to no water to be diverted from Upper Klamath Lake for irrigation this year. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here: There’s just not enough water in Klamath Basin this year

‘Reassessment’ of Klamath Project obligations dropped by Biden administration

“New Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has withdrawn a 41-page “reassessment” of the Klamath Project and its water delivery obligations under the Endangered Species Act that likely would have benefitted irrigators in future drought years.   The analysis, issued by the outgoing Trump administration in January, held that the Bureau of Reclamation has no legal right to curtail water contracted for farms to protect endangered fish, including suckers in Upper Klamath Lake and salmon in the lower Klamath River.  … ”  Continue reading at the Capital Press here:  ‘Reassessment’ of Klamath Project obligations dropped by Biden administration

Karuk, Yurok tribes applaud Klamath River Basin memo repeal

“The Karuk and Yurok tribes this week praised U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s withdrawal of seven documents interpreting laws and policies related to the Klamath River Irrigation Project. … Haaland’s action is being hailed by the Karuk Tribe as a win for tribal governments.  The tribe’s self governance director Darrel Aubrey, believes this opens up the possibility for the federal government to uphold its trust and responsibilities to tribes.  “For us to be able to have input on what happens with our environment is a huge deal and I think it’s important that we are able to have those consultations with federal agencies on improving resources,” he said. … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Karuk, Yurok tribes applaud Klamath River Basin memo repeal

Reclamation announces 2021 spring flow releases on the Trinity River as part of restoration program

“The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that this year’s restoration flow schedule for the Trinity River will begin on April 16. Each year, the Trinity Management Council advances a flow schedule based on the expected amount of water available to support salmon restoration efforts on the Trinity River.  Due to lack of precipitation and snowpack in the Trinity Mountains this winter, the flow schedule for 2021 is scaled to a critically dry water year. Critically dry is one of five water year types used by the Trinity River Restoration Program to decide how much reservoir water will be released in support of the program’s goals to improve habitat for anadromous fish—fish that migrate to fresh water from salt water to spawn—like salmon and steelhead. … ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation announces 2021 spring flow releases on the Trinity River as part of restoration program 

Historically dry conditions and increased demands prompt inflation of Russian River inflatable dam

“Due to historically dry conditions and increasing water demands, the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) this week began inflating its rubber dam located in the Russian River near Forestville. The rubber dam is a critical component of the Russian River water supply system that provides naturally filtered drinking water to more than 600,000 residents in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties.  The rubber dam is typically inflated in spring or early summer when demand for potable water increases. When fully inflated, the rubber dam creates a small pool of water from which Sonoma Water draws water for use in four off-stream infiltration ponds. The infiltration ponds help recharge groundwater, which is naturally filtered through sand and gravel and delivered to Sonoma Water’s customers. ... ”  Read more from Sonoma Water here: Historically dry conditions and increased demands prompt inflation of Russian River inflatable dam

Court rules Marin County’s protections for endangered coho salmon inadequate

“The Marin County Superior Court today ruled that the county in Northern California failed to adequately protect coho salmon and their habitat in the San Geronimo Valley.  Marin County originally planned to adopt a streamside conservation ordinance to preserve vegetation, maintain water quality and prevent erosion in 2007 when it last updated its countywide plan. But 12 years later, the measure has still not materialized, in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act.  The lawsuit was brought by the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN) and Center for Biological Diversity. … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity here: Court rules Marin County’s protections for endangered coho salmon inadequate

Four gray whales have been found dead in California’s Bay Area within eight days

“Gray whales are visible just twice a year in California as they migrate from the southern tip of the West Coast up toward Alaska and back again. They delight residents as they appear briefly in coastal waters before returning to the open ocean.  This spring, though, they’ve been washing up dead.  The carcasses of four gray whales have been found around the San Francisco Bay Area in eight days — an alarming string of deaths that constitutes an unusual mortality event, defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a significant die-off of a marine species. … ”  Read more from CNN here: Four gray whales have been found dead in California’s Bay Area within eight days

Santa Cruz: A dry year leads water managers to think about conservation measures

“Whenever it rains in California we all get this feeling of relief. From wildfire prevention to replenishing our supply of drinking water, rain brings hope.  It goes without saying that rainwater is a precious commodity on the Central Coast and we haven’t had enough of it in the past two years. In fact, in a normal year Santa Cruz gets 31 inches of rainfall. This year they’ve only received about half of that at 15 inches and because last season was also less than normal, officials are beginning to get concerned if dry conditions continue. … ”  Read more from KSBW here: A dry year leads water managers to think about conservation measures

Kings River runoff forecast at just 33%

“Dry conditions that have prevailed in the Sierra Nevada and the San Joaquin Valley since fall have sliced into the Kings River’s runoff outlooks for this spring’s annual snowmelt period, April-through-July. A gloomy annual total can be expected when Water Year 2020-21 concludes in September.  Kings River Watermaster Steve Haugen reports the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) estimates the river’s natural runoff during the peak April-through-July period will be only 400,000 acre-feet, just 33% of average. Even worse, if Kings River watershed precipitation falls short of average during these four months, the April-July total could be even lower. ... ”  Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Kings River runoff forecast at just 33%

Ridgecrest: Indian Wells Valley Water District to discuss flow reducers for past-due accounts

“The Indian Wells Valley Water District is holding a special board meeting April 12. On the agenda is a discussion of potentially installing water flow reducers to the meters of customers with past-due accounts.  The board will also review updates to the district’s COVID Prevention Plan.  A closed session will include one item of potential litigation, three items of existing litigation (two with Mojave Pistachios, LLC and one with Searles Valley Minerals, Inc.) and a performance evaluation and compensation item regarding the general manager. … ”  Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Ridgecrest: Indian Wells Valley Water District to discuss flow reducers for past-due accounts

Kern County in Depth: Is the state headed toward another drought emergency? Some local officials say ‘yes’

“California is now in its second year of drought. Water officials and state lawmakers in Kern are urging the Newsom administration to issue a drought emergency declaration, but state officials are saying not so fast. Plus an update on efforts to put unappropriated water back in the Kern River through Bakersfield.”  Watch show from KGET here: Kern County in Depth: Is the state headed toward another drought emergency? Some local officials say ‘yes’

Malibu: $4.2 million fine upheld for California homeowner’s blocking of beach access

“A $4.2 million fine against a Malibu homeowner for blocking beach access was allowed by an appeals court to stand.  The ruling filed Monday concerns the Las Flores Beach home owned by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Warren Lent and his wife, Henny.  The house, on the Pacific Coast Highway, was built in the early 1980s under a permit that required a five-foot-wide public-access easement. The first owner, however, built a deck and stairway over the easement and installed a gate that blocked access to the beach. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  Malibu: $4.2 million fine upheld for California homeowner’s blocking of beach access

California Court of Appeal upholds State Lands Commission approval of Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant

“Poseidon Water today announced that the Third District California Court of Appeal issued a decision denying the petition by seawater desalination opponents to overturn the Sacramento County Superior Court’s 2019 ruling upholding the California State Lands Commission’s 2017 approval of an amended lease for the proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Project (“Project”). The Court of Appeal decision reaffirms that the State Lands Commission correctly analyzed the Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that the Project protects the state’s Public Trust resources. … ”  Read more from KPVI here: California Court of Appeal upholds State Lands Commission approval of Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant

Salton sea dust, air quality to get closer look in California

“California’s shrinking Salton Sea is getting a closer look scientifically with the state, local air districts, and community groups examining air, water, and even dust from the parched shoreline where water was once plentiful.  The increased scrutiny comes as the state has continuously failed to meet dust suppression and habitat goals set in a 2017 management plan to restore nearly 30,000 acres of the state’s largest body of water by 2028.  The sea spans Imperial and Riverside counties near the Mexican border, where disadvantaged communities breathe some of the nation’s worst air and suffer from high asthma rates. Chronic nosebleeds are also common. ... ”  Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Salton sea dust, air quality to get closer look in California

San Diego’s soaring water rates have avocado, other growers eyeing break with county

“Many avocado growers in San Diego have gone out of business in recent years as they struggle with the rising cost of water, says Charlie Wolk as he walks through a recently forsaken grove in Rainbow that he tended for more than a decade.  .. Water managers in the agricultural regions of Fallbrook and Rainbow are now engaged in an unprecedented effort to secure cheaper water for farmers, as well as businesses and homeowners.  They’re attempting to cut ties with the region’s wholesaler, the San Diego County Water Authority, which they say has invested in ill-advised projects that have needlessly driven up the cost of water. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here:  San Diego’s soaring water rates have avocado, other growers eyeing break with county

San Diego: The massive 5-million-gallon water tank you will never see

“San Diego hiking enthusiasts might have to share part of their favorite trail with a cement mixer for the next year. The San Diego County Water Authority is building a massive 5-million-gallon concrete water storage tank, called a flow regulatory structure. You will never see it once it’s completed.  One of the hiking trails in the northwest corner of Mission Trails Regional Park is closed and there are trail detours on other parts. … ”  Continue reading at Channel 7 here: The massive 5-million-gallon water tank you will never see

Along the Colorado River …

With water shortage likely, SNWA targets decorative grass

“With a likely water shortage looming next year, regulators in Southern Nevada are setting their turf-removal sights on the next big group of water hogs.  This week, the Southern Nevada Water Authority made a public ask of Nevada lawmakers to take up legislation that would ban nonfunctional, decorative grass across the Las Vegas Valley by the end of 2026, a move that the authority says will save roughly 12 billion gallons of water annually for the region. ... ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal here: With water shortage likely, SNWA targets decorative grass

Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …

WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for April 4-9: Ensuring the reliability of the State Water Project; Update on Fresno River adjudication; plus all the top water stories of the week

Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

ARMY CORPS REGULATORY WORKSHOP: Nationwide permits

YOUR INPUT WANTED: California Seeks Input on Using Natural and Working Lands to Achieve Climate and Biodiversity Goals

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